- Counseled trade associations on antitrust compliance.
- Represented a multinational U.S. technology company in relation to market studies and as a third party in investigations by the European Commission, the UK Competition and Market Authority, the UK Office of Communications, and the French Competition Authority.
- Represented a multinational ingredients company on its acquisition of a U.S. ingredients company and divestiture of assets pursuant to a consent decree with the DOJ Antitrust Division.
- Advised third parties in investigations of technology companies and market studies involving digital markets conducted by, among others, the FTC, DOJ, state attorneys general, the Australian Competition and Consumer Commission, the South African Competition Commission, and Bundeskartellamt.
- Counseled numerous corporate and private equity clients on U.S. merger notification requirements, coordinated foreign merger control, and foreign direct investment filings.
- Counseled a telecommunications trade association on a DOJ investigation into abuse of standard setting.
Counsel,
- Phone: +1 202 239 3475
- Email: abigail.cessna@alston.com
Abigail is a creative problem solver focused on providing practical solutions for clients. Abigail uses her experience with U.S. enforcement agencies to advocate on her clients’ behalf and promote their business interests.
Abigail Cessna is counsel in Alston & Bird’s Litigation & Trial Practice Group. She advises clients on antitrust matters in the transactional, litigation, and counseling contexts. She has experience in federal, state, and foreign antitrust matters. Abigail has represented clients before U.S. agencies in merger control filings under the Hart-Scott-Rodino Act (HSR) and criminal and civil investigations.
Before joining the firm, Abigail was an associate at another national law firm. She advised on U.S. merger control filings and investigations by the DOJ, FTC, and state attorneys general. She has extensive experience counseling clients in technology, consumer goods, and private equity.
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Advisories January 31, 2025Antitrust / Mergers & Acquisitions Advisory | FTC Increases Hart–Scott–Rodino Act Thresholds and Filing Fees for 2025 as New Rules Scheduled to Take EffectOur Antitrust and Mergers & Acquisitions Groups analyze this year’s Hart–Scott–Rodino (HSR) Act adjustments and the future of pending HSR rules.Advisories January 31, 2025Antitrust / Mergers & Acquisitions Advisory | FTC Increases Hart–Scott–Rodino Act Thresholds and Filing Fees for 2025 as New Rules Scheduled to Take EffectOur Antitrust and Mergers & Acquisitions Groups analyze this year’s Hart–Scott–Rodino (HSR) Act adjustments and the future of pending HSR rules.
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Press Release December 13, 2024Alston & Bird Advises Veritiv on Sale of Rigid-Packaging BusinessAlston & Bird advised Veritiv Operating Company, a leader in specialty packaging distribution, on the sale of Veritiv Containers, the company’s rigid-packaging business, to TricorBraun, a global packaging leader. Pending regulatory approval, the sale is expected to be completed in the first quarter of 2025.Press Release December 13, 2024Alston & Bird Advises Veritiv on Sale of Rigid-Packaging BusinessAlston & Bird advised Veritiv Operating Company, a leader in specialty packaging distribution, on the sale of Veritiv Containers, the company’s rigid-packaging business, to TricorBraun, a global packaging leader. Pending regulatory approval, the sale is expected to be completed in the first quarter of 2025.
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Advisories November 13, 2024Antitrust / Mergers & Acquisitions Advisory | FTC Advances Significant Changes to Premerger Notification Process: Change of Administration Adds New UncertaintyAt long last, the Federal Trade Commission has approved a final rule to expand the pre-merger filling requirements under the Hart-Scott-Rodino (HSR) Act. Our Antitrust and Mergers & Acquisitions teams weigh in.Advisories November 13, 2024Antitrust / Mergers & Acquisitions Advisory | FTC Advances Significant Changes to Premerger Notification Process: Change of Administration Adds New UncertaintyAt long last, the Federal Trade Commission has approved a final rule to expand the pre-merger filling requirements under the Hart-Scott-Rodino (HSR) Act. Our Antitrust and Mergers & Acquisitions teams weigh in.
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Press Release October 21, 2024Alston & Bird Advises Pathstone in Acquisition of Hall Capital PartnersAlston & Bird advised Pathstone Family Office, a New Jersey-based multifamily office backed by Lovell Minnick Partners and Kelso & Company, in its acquisition of Hall Capital Partners, a bi-coastal independent advisory firm based in San Francisco and New York. The combination elevates Pathstone's position as the largest independent registered investment advisor serving ultra-high-net-worth families, endowments, foundations, and other similarly situated institutions.Press Release October 21, 2024Alston & Bird Advises Pathstone in Acquisition of Hall Capital PartnersAlston & Bird advised Pathstone Family Office, a New Jersey-based multifamily office backed by Lovell Minnick Partners and Kelso & Company, in its acquisition of Hall Capital Partners, a bi-coastal independent advisory firm based in San Francisco and New York. The combination elevates Pathstone's position as the largest independent registered investment advisor serving ultra-high-net-worth families, endowments, foundations, and other similarly situated institutions.
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Advisories September 26, 2024Financial Services / Antitrust Advisory: FDIC, OCC, and DOJ Update Guidance on Bank Merger EvaluationsLast week, each of the Federal Deposit Insurance Corporation (FDIC), the Office of the Comptroller of the Currency (OCC), and the Department of Justice Antitrust Division (DOJ) revised how they will review bank mergers. Our Financial Services and Antitrust teams highlight what banks considering mergers should know about the changes.Advisories September 26, 2024Financial Services / Antitrust Advisory: FDIC, OCC, and DOJ Update Guidance on Bank Merger EvaluationsLast week, each of the Federal Deposit Insurance Corporation (FDIC), the Office of the Comptroller of the Currency (OCC), and the Department of Justice Antitrust Division (DOJ) revised how they will review bank mergers. Our Financial Services and Antitrust teams highlight what banks considering mergers should know about the changes.
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Press Release August 29, 2024Alston & Bird Earns 16 Leadership Appointments to ABA Antitrust Law SectionSixteen Alston & Bird Antitrust Team attorneys have been appointed to leadership posts in the American Bar Association Antitrust Law Section, the country’s largest and most prominent antitrust and consumer protection bar organization.Press Release August 29, 2024Alston & Bird Earns 16 Leadership Appointments to ABA Antitrust Law SectionSixteen Alston & Bird Antitrust Team attorneys have been appointed to leadership posts in the American Bar Association Antitrust Law Section, the country’s largest and most prominent antitrust and consumer protection bar organization.
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Advisories August 21, 2024Labor & Employment / Antitrust Advisory | Noncompete Clauses Get a Reprieve from FTC Ban: What’s Next?As expected, a Texas federal court blocked the Federal Trade Commission’s rule banning noncompete clauses. Our Labor & Employment and Antitrust Groups break down the court’s reasoning and look ahead to what might come next.Advisories August 21, 2024Labor & Employment / Antitrust Advisory | Noncompete Clauses Get a Reprieve from FTC Ban: What’s Next?As expected, a Texas federal court blocked the Federal Trade Commission’s rule banning noncompete clauses. Our Labor & Employment and Antitrust Groups break down the court’s reasoning and look ahead to what might come next.
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Advisories July 11, 2024Labor & Employment / Antitrust Advisory | FTC’s Rule Banning Noncompete Agreements Partially Blocked by Federal JudgeA federal judge has partially blocked a rule by the Federal Trade Commission (FTC) to ban most employer noncompete agreements. Our Labor & Employment and Antitrust teams weigh in on the impending ban’s uncertain future.Advisories July 11, 2024Labor & Employment / Antitrust Advisory | FTC’s Rule Banning Noncompete Agreements Partially Blocked by Federal JudgeA federal judge has partially blocked a rule by the Federal Trade Commission (FTC) to ban most employer noncompete agreements. Our Labor & Employment and Antitrust teams weigh in on the impending ban’s uncertain future.
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Advisories April 24, 2024Labor & Employment / Antitrust Advisory: What Workers Are Covered by the FTC’s Ban of Noncompete Clauses?Our Labor & Employment and Antitrust teams unpack the new Federal Trade Commission rule banning most employer noncompete clauses.Advisories April 24, 2024Labor & Employment / Antitrust Advisory: What Workers Are Covered by the FTC’s Ban of Noncompete Clauses?Our Labor & Employment and Antitrust teams unpack the new Federal Trade Commission rule banning most employer noncompete clauses.
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Advisories February 23, 2024Antitrust / Mergers & Acquisitions Advisory: FTC Increases Hart–Scott–Rodino Act Thresholds and Filing Fees for 2024Our Antitrust and Mergers & Acquisitions Groups analyze this year’s Hart–Scott–Rodino Act adjustments and the Federal Trade Commission’s plans for a potential government shutdown.Advisories February 23, 2024Antitrust / Mergers & Acquisitions Advisory: FTC Increases Hart–Scott–Rodino Act Thresholds and Filing Fees for 2024Our Antitrust and Mergers & Acquisitions Groups analyze this year’s Hart–Scott–Rodino Act adjustments and the Federal Trade Commission’s plans for a potential government shutdown.
Bar Admissions
- District of Columbia
- New York
Education
- Cornell University (J.D., 2015)
- Drexel University (B.A., 2012)
Memberships
- American Bar Association Antitrust Section, Intellectual Property Committee, vice chair (2021–present)